Improving the Federal/State response to potential patterns of market failure in electricity, gas, and telecommunications

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · NRRI Quarterly Bulletin

OSTI ID:381177

Jones, D N

Taking seriously the overall panel question, {open_quotes}Will Light Regulation Promote the Public Interest in Market-Driven Utility Industries?,{close_quotes} the answer depends on (1) the reality of the last phrase, {open_quotes}market-driven utility industries,{close_quotes} and (2) timing. My answer is, {open_quotes}Possibly, but it is by no means certain.{close_quotes} This article centers on what needs to happen in various consumer protection activities to enhance the chances of a satisfactory outcome as we {open_quotes}let down our guard{close_quotes} from more traditional public utility regulation. The topics that I will briefly treat are (1) the worsened information asymmetry, (2) where substitute help might be found for consumer protection, (3) the reemergence of the diversification phenomenon, (4) the opportunities/problems of a dual system of regulation (federal/state) in the current context, and (5) the needed theoretical contributions that I hope our economics profession can make in advancing our knowledge of how oligopolistic markets really work.

• OSTI ID: 381177
• Journal Information: NRRI Quarterly Bulletin, Journal Name: NRRI Quarterly Bulletin Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 17; ISSN NQBUEK; ISSN 8756-632X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
ANTITRUST LAWS
DEREGULATION
ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY
HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION
PUBLIC POLICY